The Mother's Day Hustle

The son of a preacher, Tennis Pro Bobby Riggs learned early that heaven helps those who hustle their neighbors. As a kid in Los Angeles, he once cleaned out a playmate in a marbles match. "Then," Riggs recalls, "I traded him 100 marbles and two aggies for the tennis racket his sister got for Christmas." That accomplished, little Bobby got down on his knees--not to give prayerful thanks but to "win back the 100 marbles and the two aggies all over again. I figured it taught him a lesson."

Riggs moved on from marbles to administer many such lessons in tennis, golf, Ping Pong, pool, dominoes, craps, backgammon and gin rummy. Come Sunday, in Ramona, Calif., he will co-star in what may be the first nationally televised tennis hustle. At 55, he will take on Margaret Court, 30. If Bobby has his way, he will simultaneously ring up some new proceeds and put down women's tennis. The match is the result of a challenge he made two years ago to Billie Jean King. "You insist that top women players provide a brand of tennis comparable to men's," he said then. "I challenge you to prove it. I contend that you not only cannot beat a top male player but that you can't beat me, a tired old man."

Fat Purse. The winner of the U.S. singles in 1939 and 1941, four pro titles and numerous senior men's (45 and over) tournaments, Riggs is also the all-time champ in baiting opponents. "Women play about 25% as good as men," he insists, "so they should get about 25% of the money men receive. If any woman wants to spend an hour-and-a-half of her time proving women are as good as men, now's her chance."

Billie Jean played it cool. "It is not worth my while," she said. Australia's Court, who has returned to the circuit after a one-year maternity leave, accepted the challenge. Spurred by Riggs' publicity, the purse for the winner-take-all match at a new tennis-oriented community, San Diego Country Estates, has fattened to $10,000--$5,000 from Riggs and $5,000 from the San Diego promoters. Lest anyone miss the irony, Riggs is the first to note that next Sunday is Mother's Day.

Old Pro Pancho Segura says that Court will learn the hard way what he and other veteran players know from long experience: "Never bet against Riggs." There was the time in 1939, for example, when the cocksure Riggs went to London, bet the bookies that he would win the singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon--and went home $100,000 richer. Before one match with Don Budge, he strolled among the box seats placing bets with film stars and then went out and won in four sets. John Faunce, who used to hustle $20,000 to $30,000 every spring playing doubles with Riggs in Florida, claims that even today "there's a man in Beverly Hills who puts aside $10,000 a year just to lose to Bobby."

Losing to Master Handicapper Riggs, in fact, is almost fun. Depending on the competition, he will play while being tied to his doubles partner, while holding a poodle on a leash ("It's harder if the dog isn't housebroken"), while running around four chairs placed on his side of the court, or wearing an overcoat or carrying a pail of water. One estimate puts Riggs' lifetime betting take at $500,000. Says he: "I'm the best money player ever."

Tactics. He is also, by his own admission, "probably the greatest defensive player who ever lived." Against Court, who at 5 ft. 9 in. is two inches taller than Riggs, he will stick to the base line and try to keep the leggy Aussie running with his maddening array of precision placements, drop shots and lobs into the sun. "He'll serve like a pitcher in baseball," says Faunce, "using a curve, sinker, screwball, change-up and, when he needs it, the fastball." Adds Riggs: "She is going to see a couple of shots she hasn't seen before."

And a lot of energy-conserving ploys that Old Pro Jack Kramer has seen too much of. "Knowing Bobby as I do," says Kramer, "he will use every trick to stall. When they change sides, he will take two minutes to wipe off his racket. After a volley, he will stall before the next serve to catch his breath. My guess is that Margaret, who has a good disposition, will tolerate his tactics and not complain to the umpire. That will be a mistake."

Riggs, who likes to keep up a running banter, has already begun to chatter. "The pressure on Margaret is going to be tremendous," he says. "She's going to have all Women's Lib on her back saying 'Please, please, don't let this old over-the-hill guy beat you.' She has a history of nerves, of choking. I perform better under stress and strain."

Court, who so far this season has won twelve of 15 tournaments and $82,550, responds coolly: "I would not have taken Riggs on if I were not confident that I would beat him." Mighty Maggie, who plays the closest thing to a man's power game on the women's circuit, explains that "I enjoy playing with men. I've practiced a lot in Europe with Bob Howe, who beat Riggs in the veterans' tournament, and I've beaten Bob seven out of ten times." She insists that "Riggs doesn't worry me. There is no way to psych me out. I've been through it all." Court is wisely saving her breath for Sunday's match, when she will have a glorious chance to blow away one of the largest egos in sports.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.